Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is the most surprising player still on the draft board after day two. The versatile DB has the ability to play safety or slot corner in the NFL, and many pegged him as the draft’s top overall safety. His game is similar to 2018 first rounders Derwin James and Minkah Fitzpatrick, though he is admittedly a step below each of those two guys.
Several mocks had Gardner-Johnson coming off of the board in the first round, so it’s inconceivable that he would slip to the third day of the draft. I wouldn’t expect him to have to wait long on Saturday to hear his name called, and he could be one of the biggest steals in this class.
It isn’t a big surprise to see Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham still on the board as the draft flips to its final day, but he he has the tools to be molded into an NFL starting quarterback down the road. Stidham’s stock soared after his redshirt sophomore season on the Plains, and he would have undoubtedly been drafted higher had he not returned to Auburn for his junior campaign.
Behind a patchwork offensive line, Stidham struggled and Auburn fell from a national championship contender to the Music City Bowl. There’s a few mechanical issues that Stidham will have to work through, but he’s got a good arm and he’s accurate with throws down the field. He’s the perfect developmental prospect for the third day of the draft.
Iowa State’s Hakeem Butler is probably the second most surprising prospect still on the board after Gardner-Johnson. Butler had first round buzz as well, with most mocks pegging him in the second round. He’s far too talented to have fallen to the fourth round or later.
At 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds, Butler could be an immediate impact player in the NFL in the redzone. He also ran a pretty full route tree with the Cyclones, and while he doesn’t possess elite speed, his large catch radius makes him a difficult cover in one-on-one situations. Don’t be surprised, even with the slip to day three, if Butler is one of the more impactful offensive rookies.
With his athleticism and production at such a major program, it’s never made sense why Texas defensive lineman Charles Omenihu has had such little draft buzz. He went to the Senior Bowl and was one of the standout performers there, and by all accounts had a strong showing at the combine that seemed to lock him into the day two range.
Omenihu has a ridiculous wingspan and the versatility to play inside or outside on the defensive line. He was highly productive in college, and he will be excellent value for whichever team pulls the trigger on him on Saturday.
Penn State cornerback Amani Oruwariye seemed like the total package as a corner, and most mocks had him pegged as a second round prospect. The run on corners came and went on day two, and Oruwariye didn’t hear his name called. Several prospects rated much lower than him were selected instead, and now the former Nittany Lion will have to wait until Saturday.
At 6-foot-2, Oruwariye clocked in a 4.47 40-yard-dash at the combine. There must be something we don’t know about that is scaring teams away, because he had the collegiate production and the measurables that should have seen him off the board by now.